Merchant Women, Noblewomen, Magnates. Women Entrepreneurs in 19th Century Russia

Those who believe that in 19th century Russia women were solely occupied with household duties and raising children, while the business world was exclusively ruled by men, this book will convince otherwise. Relying on her many years of research, historian Galina Ulyanova shows that both merchant daughters and representatives of all economically active classes were well-versed in financial matters and deal-making. The social status of women entrepreneurs varied from petty bourgeoises and soldiers' wives managing small craft enterprises and retail stores, to magnates and prominent merchant women, such as the owner of steel rolling mills, noblewoman Nadezhda Stenbok-Fermor, and the owner of the largest textile factories in Russia, Maria Morozova. What was the attitude of these women toward wealth? What business development strategies did they choose? Did women entrepreneurs manage to combine firmness in business with softness and care at home? The author answers these questions, presenting dozens of fantastic stories of women's success that overturn our perceptions of the place of women in pre-revolutionary society. Galina Ulyanova is a doctor of historical sciences, a leading researcher at the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the author of seven books on the history of merchants and charity.